Part 51. Defining Christian love (1)

Love is a Christian buzzword. How do you define its meaning, never mind its application?  Tricky word, whether used as a noun or as a verb, yet so much hangs on the meaning we give to it. Do we define it narrowly or broadly? Do we qualify it or compartmentalise it? Are there degrees of love? Is it mental, physical or both?  I am reminded of the ideas of Derrida, that we can only express our understanding of  the meaning of a word though other words which in turn can only be...etc. A word means what a person believes it to mean no matter what the original author meant.  Meaning is subjective, not objective. Meaning is flexible, not rigid. It is fluid, not set in stone. There is no one objective true meaning of a word as bible literalist fundamentalists would have us believe. 

At this juncture you may be thinking what then is the point of my seeking to  define the meaning of love in a Christian context? Quite right, it means what you want it to mean, not what I might propose it to mean.  I am going to press on and consider the matter anyway!

Love is at the core of the ministry of Jesus. Witness the two great commandments instructing us to love God and love your neighbour as yourself. The parable of the good Samaritan is an example of love in action as are the  actions demanded by Jesus in the sheep and goats parable. (Matthew 25:31-46). Love manifests itself in deeds.

In his letters Paul articulates his thoughts concerning the concept of love. I have quoted a number passages to provide an overall picture of his views.

*Romans 13:8-10

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow-man has fulfilled the law. The commandments,"Do not commit adultery", "Do not murder", "Do not steal", "Do not covet" and whatever other commandments there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbour as yourself". Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.

Individual rules subsumed in a  principle broader in meaning than the totality of individual rules. A vital concept in our theological thinking on the meaning of passages of scripture. So, what is love?

*1 Corinthians 13:3-8

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy  it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude  it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts , always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

* Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

* Ephesians 5:2

Live a life of love.

* Colossians 3:12-14

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved  clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And above all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  

Paul uses the word 'love'  as an overarching concept to link together and categorise under one label what he considers to be a set of virtuous attitudes and behaviour for Christians to follow.  In his letters Paul sets out a moral code for individuals to adhere to, a catalogue of dos and donts. The classic gatekeeper.  However, the words are so generalised that they are capable of being interpreted in many different ways.  We must beware of attempts to impose any one interpretation as being 'correct' to the exclusion of others.  We must resist any temptation to grant equal or more weight to Paul's ideas than we do to those of Jesus.

To be continued.......